Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
RODNEY PAGEOne in a series celebrating influential African-Americans from the Tampa Bay sports scene. For the complete series, see www.sptimes.com/localheroes/
AGE: 40.
CLAIM TO FAME: Crumbley is a St. Petersburg native who was a three-sport athlete at Boca Ciega High School. He was named the St. Petersburg Quarterback Club's outstanding player of the year in 1980. After earning a football scholarship to Arizona Western University, Crumbley transferred to Utah State and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology. He returned to St. Petersburg and earned a master's degree in educational counseling from South Florida. He worked for the St. Petersburg Housing Authority as a supervisor and oversaw recreation projects. He also worked with children in athletic programs at Jordan Park.
Crumbley joined St. Petersburg College in 1992 as a counselor in Project Success, which provided counseling for at-risk students. He also became an assistant basketball coach under Bill Payne before taking over the program full time in 1998.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Lars Hafner, the athletic director at St. Petersburg College, has known Crumbley since they were basketball teammates at Boca Ciega. Hafner was already at St. Petersburg Junior College, as it was known then, as an administrator when Crumbley arrived. "There is no finer individual than Earnest," Hafner said. "He is a very caring person who works very hard in order for others to succeed. He is always working in the community. I think he's a perfect role model."
DID YOU KNOW: Within two weeks in February 2002, Crumbley won the state junior college basketball tournament, his son, Earnest Jr., won the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament championship with Florida Atlantic and his youngest son, Kory, won a state championship at Lakewood High School.
"That was like being in the Twilight Zone," Crumbley said.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Crumbley is in his sixth season as basketball coach at St. Petersburg College. In the 2001-02 season, he led theTitans to their first state championship in any sport. His son, Kory, plays on the current team. He lives with his wife and high school sweetheart, Shirley.
WORDS TO LIVE BY: "I used to look for the pot of gold out there somewhere, but I realized that it's right here in my own back yard."